Photo by Marc Newberry on Unsplash
Hardly Any Plastics Can Be Recycled According to a New Study
February 16, 2024
A new study claims that hardly any plastics can be safely recycled. According to a report by the Center for Climate Integrity, a nonprofit organization that advocates for legal action to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable, plastics, simply put, cannot be safely recycled.
The study “The Fraud of Plastic Recycling: How Big Oil and the Plastics Industry Deceived the Public for Decades and Caused the Plastic Waste Crisis” includes evidence that could provide information to hold fossil fuel and other petrochemical companies accountable for their untruths.
The study claims Big Oil and the plastics industry have “deceptively promoted recycling as a solution to plastic waste management for more than 50 years.” This was despite the knowledge that plastic recycling is not technically or economically viable.
The report states that as of 2021, the U.S. recycling rate for plastic is estimated to be only 5%-6%. It claims plastic recycling has yet to become a reality due to long-known technical and economic limitations.
Details of the report explain that petrochemical companies and the plastics industry have known the “technical and economic limitations” that have made plastics unrecyclable for more than half a century. It alleges that, knowing this, the plastics industry continued to increase plastic production and simultaneously deceived “consumers, policymakers, and regulators about plastic recycling.”
NPR reported that when the plastics industry launched its recycling campaign, a group called the Vinyl Institute said in 1989 that “recycling cannot go on indefinitely, and does not solve the solid waste problem.”
President of America’s Plastic Makers, Ross Eisenberg, refuted the report. He said the “flawed” report cites “outdated, decades-old technologies” and works against current sustainability goals by “mischaracterizing the industry and the state of today’s recycling technologies.”
He called plastics “highly efficient modern materials” critical to building a sustainable, lower carbon future. Eisenberg concluded that America needs plastics to meet its marks for renewable energy, clean water, connectivity, and global health and nutrition goals.
Recent News
Media Giants Depend on Sports As Content Shortages Rise
As Hollywood emerges from last year’s strikes, major media companies are turning to live sports to attract audiences and advertisers. This trend was evident during this year’s Upfront presentations, where media giants showcased their upcoming content and advertising opportunities.
New Trader Joe’s Opens in SF After 10 Years
San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood welcomed a highly anticipated new addition on May 17, 2024, with the grand opening of a Trader Joe’s at 555 Fulton St., on the corner of Laguna Street. This event marks the end of a decade-long wait for residents who have been eagerly looking forward to a new grocery store in their area.
China’s Property Market Boost: Stocks Surge, Copper Hits Highs
The Chinese government unveiled a comprehensive support package that has sent ripples through financial markets. This initiative includes a slew of measures aimed at stimulating housing demand and addressing the excess inventory burdening developers. The immediate impact was a significant rally in Chinese stocks and a surge in commodity prices, notably copper, which hit record highs.
Mercedes-Benz Workers in Alabama Reject Union
In a pivotal moment for autoworkers in the southern United States, employees at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama have voted against joining the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The outcome, with 56% of workers voting against unionization and 44% in favor, comes as a significant setback for the UAW’s efforts to expand its influence in the region.